This Week in Odessa History

Churches were to be found every few miles throughout the countryside in the early days of the Odessa area. Usually they were served by itinerant ministers, who either traveled by horseback or by wagon to serve their several congregations. Often, it was two or three weeks, sometimes six weeks, before the pastor could make the rounds again.

The Emmanuel Lutheran Church, five miles south of Lauer, was one of the early churches of the Odessa rural area.

Four hundred and fifty people filled the new Emmanuel Lutheran Church south of Lauer to overflowing at its dedicatory service held Sunday.

The ope...